MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE

A man who police say killed a Salt Lake man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted criminal homicide.

Gregory McGee, 25, was charged with shooting Isileli Latu, 19, once in the back during a June 7 graduation party. Latu died June 11, and charges against McGee were upgraded to second-degree murder. But McGee pleaded guilty last month to a lesser charge of attempted second-degree murder as part of a plea bargain with the Salt Lake County attorney's office.McGee will be sentenced before 3rd District Judge Dennis Frederick on Oct. 15.

Police said Latu and a group of others apparently crashed the "peaceful" graduation party at the Redwood Shadows apartments clubhouse, 176 N. Redwood Road. About 125 people were there to celebrate graduation from East and West high schools.

During a scuffle between Latu, McGee and others, McGee pulled out a gun and fired a shot into the air, according to court documents. After the shot, witnesses said Latu and others ran away from McGee. McGee chased Latu for some distance and then shot him in the back at close range.

A doctor said the bullet entered Latu's back, fractured and then entered his lung and the stem of his brain. McGee said he shot Latu after Latu struck him, court documents state.